Catalytic lighter



Aug. 25, 1936. A. F. REILLY CATALYTIC LIGHTErg Filed Oct. 2l, 1933 zo w INVENTOR Aff/'aol Rel/'gy TTORNEYS BY @Lv Patented Aug. 2s, 1936 PATENTy OFFICE I cATALmc vLrdn'rrm. l

Alfred F. Reilly, North Attleboro, Mass., assignor to Evans Case Company, North Attleboro, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 2l, 1933, Serial No. 694,549

, -12 claims.

The invention relates to lighters and, with regard to its more specific features, to catalytic action lighters.

One object of the invention is to provide a pocket lighter which can be operated with one hand and which can be used in a gale of wind to light a cigarette. Another object of the invention is to provide a reliable and efllcient catalytic lighter. Another object of the invention is to provide a catalytic lighter which may be operated in the same manner as an automatic pyrophorlc lighter. Another object of the invention is to provide a catalytic action lighter having a large reserve of fuel. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.,

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exempliiied in the structure to be hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one ofvarious possiblef embodiments of the mechanical features ofthis invention. Figure 1 is a. side elevation of a lighter con-v structed in accordance with'the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the lighter;

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on a line 3-3 of Figure 2: and

Figure 4 is a plan view of the lighter.

Similar reference characters refer to similar.'

parts throughout the several views of the draw- Ing.

` Referring first to Figure 1, I provide a fuel receptacle III in which may be inserted cotton Illa or other suitable absorbent for the retention of a liquid fuel, for example a-hydrocarbon fuel. As better'shown in Figure 2 the fuel receptacle I3 may be formed by joining together a pair of struck shells Il to form side and end walls, the side and end walls being closed by a top wall I2 and a bottom wall I3. In the bottom wall I3 is a the inside of the fuel receptacle In by a hole I9. i Thus air can enter the fuel receptacle III, but

neither air nor vapor can escape therefrom by way of the cap I4. Preferably a washer 2U is provided between the bottom of the wall I3 and the upper side of the closure cap I4 to eliminate leakage at this point.

In the top wall I2 of the lighter is an orifice 2| in which fits a flanged cylinder 22 having a ting bore 3l in a cylinder head 32 whichis screw l5 threaded in order that it may be secured inthe cylinder z2. There is a. ho1e 33 1n' the side of the cylinder 22 just under the top wall I2 and there.-

is an annular groove 34 in the cylinder head 32 which registers with this hole 33. Comparing now Figures 2 and 3, the cylinder head 32 has a bore 35 extending inwardly'from the groove 34 which meets a bore 36 extending upwardly from the bottom of the cylinder head. rI'hrough the cylinder head 321s another bore 3l which extends from the top to the bottom of the cylinder head. v

A leather washer 33 having a hole for the pas- .sage of the piston rod 23 without interference therewith is adapted to close both bores 33 and 3i. The leather washer 33 may be secured to the under side of the cylinder head 32 by means of a rivet 33.

Downward movement of the piston 33 forces whatever is in the cylinder 22 outwardly through a pipe I3 connected to the closed bottom end of the cylinder 22. At the same time the washer 33, which acts as a ap Valve, is Withdrawn from the bores 33 and 3'I allowing air to enter the cylinder 22 on the upper side of the piston 23 and allowing vaporzed fuel to enter through the hole 33, annular groove 33, bore 33, and bore 33. 'The relative sizes of the bore 3l on the one hand, and the bores 33, 35, and 33 on the other hand, regulate the mixture taken into the cylinder 22. Upward movement of thepiston 24 .forces by pneumatic pressure the washer 33 against the bores 33 and 31, whereupon the mixture on the upper side of the piston 24 passes to the lower side thereof by action of the cup shaped piece of leather 25. By reason of the fact that the gas is sealed in the upper side of the cylinder there isvvery. little tendency to suck air or `anything else through the pipe it upon upward movement of the piston 24.

Piston 24 is operated through the piston rod 28 by means of a finger piece member 4| secured to the top of the rod 28. This finger piece mem ber may comprise a flat member 42 secured in place by a head screw 43 which screws into the piston rod 28. f

Extending upwardly from the top wall i 2 of the lighter are a pair of ears 44. Extending between the ears 44 is a shaft 45 screw threaded on one end to fit in corresponding screw threads in one of the ears 44, there being a suitable flange on the shaft to keep it from loosening once it is secured in place. Journaled on the shaft 45 is a snuffer member 46 which comprises a top portion 41 having a pair `of downwardly extending sides 48, 48 fitting inside the ears 44, 44 and through which the shaft 45 passes. On the front end of the top .portions 41 and on the under side thereof is secured a snufer cap 48.

The fiat portion 42 of the finger piece member '4| is bent over at the front part 50 thereof to ger piece member 4| and the sriuiier member 46.

When the finger piece 4I is depressed the snuifer member 46 is turned to raise the snufier cap 48.

The snuffer cap seats firmly against an annular seat 52 of a flange 53 provided on a tubular member 54. Tubular member 54 has a cylindrical chamber 55 in the bottom of which is an opening 56. The bottom part of the opening 56 is screw threaded and receives one end of the pipe 40.

The cylindrical chamber 55 receives a catalytic member 51 which may be formed of a composition of platinum black and some porous ceramic material or the like, being in the form of a plug fitl ting the chamber 55 and preferably having a centrai bore 58 therein. Removably securing the catalytic member 51 in place is an annular cap 59 which has resilient sides having one or more inwardly pressed portions 60 to snap in place into a groove 6i in the member 54. The member 54 passes through and is secured to the top wall I2 forming a tight seal therewith. l

When the parts are in the position shown in the figures, fuel issealed in the fuel receptacle I0 as all openings are closed. Depression of the finger piece 4I, however, raises the snuffer cap 49 and at the same time forces a mixture of hydrocarbon vapor and air through the pipe 40 into the cylindrical chamber 55 and thus into the catalytic action member 51. This causes the member 51 to heat up and glow, whereupon a cigarette or cigar or the like may be lighted by merely placing the end of it against the member 51 and drawing in air.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention an apparatus in which the various objects hereinbefore set forth, together with many practicaladvantages, are successfully achieved. l

As many possible embodiments may be made of `the above invention, and as many changes may be made in the embodiment above setforth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a llmcape of vapor. a cylinder depending from the top wall near one end thereof and into the fuel receptacle, a piston in said cylinder arranged to force gas downwardly but not upwardly, a cylinder head closing the top of the cylinder and having a passage extending from the inside of the cylinder to the outside of the lighter, a passage connecting the top of the cylinder with the inside of the fuel receptacle, a spring in the cylinder underneath the piston, a container for catalytic material at the other end of the top wall, a rim associated with said container having a seat formed thereon, a snuffer cap arranged to rest against said seat, a pipe connecting the container for catalytic material with the bottom of the cylinder, a snuffer arm mounting said snuifer, said arm being pivoted on a horizontal axis on the top of said receptacle, a piston rod for said piston, a finger piece member mounted on the top of said piston rod, and a connection between said finger piece member andsaid snuffer arm whereby depression of said finger piece member raises said snufer.

2. In a lighter, a chamber for catalytic material, a separate chamber for fuel, a third chamber for mixing vaporized fuel and air, means to draw air and vaporized fuel into said third chamber and to expel the mixture from said third chamber into the first named chamber, a snufler normally covering said first chamber, a finger piece to operate both said air and fuel drawing and expelling means, and connections whereby said finger piece also operates said snuier.

3. In a lighter, a fuel receptacle, a catalytic material holder at one end of the top of said fuel receptacle, a mixing chamber on the other end of the top of said fuel receptacle, communicating means between said mixing chamber, and said holder, and` operating means to expel the mixture from said mixing chamber into said holder.

4. In a lighter, a fuel receptacle, a catalytic material holder at one end of the top of said fuel receptacle, a mixing chamber on the other end of the top of said fuel receptacle. communicating means between said mixing chamber and said holder, operating means to expel the mixture from said mixing chamber into said holder, a snuffer for said catalytic material holder, and connections between said operating means and said snufer whereby when said operating means is operated said snuffer is lifted from said catalytic material holder.

5. In a lighter, a fuel receptacle, an elongated top wall to said fuel receptacle, a cylindrical chamber for catalytic material mounted on' said top wall, a cylindrical disc of catalytic material substantially filling said chamber, a snutler mounted on a horizontal pivot on said top wail, a finger piece mounted for downward movement on said top wall, and connections between said finger piece and said snuffer.

6. In a lighter, a fuel receptacle having a top wall, a snuifer mounted for upward movement on said top wall, a finger piece mounted for downward movement on said top wall, connections between said finger piece and said snuffer whereby downward movement of said finger piece raises `said snuifer, a holder for catalytic material having a circular top of a size to receive a standard cigarette and in position to be closed by saidlsnuffer, and a passage fr the admission of vapor to said catalytic material.

7. In a lighter, a chamber for catalytic material, a fuel chamber, a pump chamber, a check valve for the fuel chamber to admit air thereto,

passages for the admission of both air and vaporized fuel to said pump chamber, one way valve means controlling said passages, and conducting means between said pump chamber and said catalytic material chamber.

8. In a lighter, a fuel receptacle having a top Wall, a pump mounted on said top walLa finger piece to operate said pump, a catalytic material holder also mounted on said top wall, communieating means between said holder and said pump, and Valve means cooperating with said pump tocause said pump to directl a mixture of fuel vapor and air against the catalytic material in said holder and preventing said pump on the reverse stroke from effecting suction of air back through said holder.,

9. In a lighter, a pump cylinder, a piston comprising also a valve, a check valve at one end of said cylinder, a fuel receptacle, a passage between said fuel receptacle and said" check valve, a passage between said check valve and the outside air, a separate check valve to admit air to the fuel receptacle, a holder for catalytic material, and a passage between said holder and said cylinder at the opposite end of said cylinder from said rst named check valve.

10. In a lighter, in combination, a fuel re-v ceptacle, a mass of absorbent material in said receptacle adapted to hold a. quantity of volatile fuel, a. holder located at one end of said receptacle, means forming a vapor path between the interior of said holder and the interior 'of said receptacle, a mass of catalytic material in the interior of said holder, a cover plvotally connected to said receptacle and shaped to close over said holder, means forming an air passageway from the outside atmosphere into said receptacle, a valve adapted to close said passageway, a reciprocating member operably related to said valve, means connecting said member and said cover so that said valve closes said passageway when said cover is closed over said holder and movement of said cover toits open position moves said member to cause said valve to open said passageway,

and spring means disposed to press against said member to urge said member and said cover in one direction of interrelated movement.

11. In a lighter, in combination, a fuel receptacle, a mass of absorbent material capable of holding volatile fuel disposed in said receptacle, a holder located at one end of said receptacle, a mass of catalytic 'material in said holder, means forming a separate chamber Within said receptacle and in communication with said receptacle, means forming an air passageway from saidend of said receptacle to said chamber, a valve adapted to cut off said passageway and prevent the ow of air therethrough to said chamber, a cover plvotally connected to said end of said receptacle and adapted to pivot down and close over said holder, a reciprocating member operably related to said valve, and means interconnecting 'said member and said cover so that said member causessaid valve to open said passageway to said chamber when said cover pivots to uncover said holder.

12. In a lighter, in combination, a fuel receptacle, a mass of absorbent material capable of holding volatile fuel disposed in said receptacle, a'

holder located on said receptacle, a mass 4of l catalytic material in said holder, means forming a separate chamber within said receptacle and in communication with said receptacle, means forming an air passageway from'the exterior of said receptacle into said chamber, a valve adapted to open and shut said passageway to control the flow of air therethrough to said chamber, a cover pivotally connected to said receptacle and adapted to close down over said holder, a reciprocating member operably related to said valve, said member and said cover being interconnected so that said member causes said valve to open said passageway to said chamber when said cover pivots to uncover said holder, and a spring acting against sai'd member normally urging said member and said cover in one direction of interrelated movement.

i ALFRED F. REILLY. 

